Last updated:7 June, 2023
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2023
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Picnic in the Castle grounds - Saturday 3 June, 2023
We set up our stall at this public event opened by the Mayor, Cllr Masuk Miah, and run by Guildford in Bloom and Enterprise Guildford. Hook-a-Duck proved to be a big draw....
Filmfest 2023 - Wednesday 10 May, 2023
In collaboration with the University of Surrey we showed 3 German films back to back, with a brief academic introduction for each:
- Die Austernprinzessin (The Oyster Princess) 1919, dir. Ernst Lubitsch - an early demonstration of "the Lubitsch touch", a bit risqué, a bit absurd, technically innovative - and funny!
- Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others) 2006, dir. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck - Oscar-winning, powerful, brilliant, thought-provoking.
- Ich bin dein Mensch (I'm Your Man) 2021, dir. Maria Schrader - a woman scientist (Maren Eggert) relucantly agrees as an experiment to live for 3 weeks with a humanoid robot (Dan Stevens) designed to make her happy.
Where - Teaching Block, University of Surrey
Open to the public: free admission
Members' Dinner - Tuesday 21 March, 2023
Guests the Deputy German Ambassador and the Mayor of Guildford were among those dining in the beautiful surroundings of our historic Guildhall. Live music was kindly provided by a string quartet from Guildford High School.
Where: Guildhall, High Street, Guildford GU1 3AA
Members and their guests only
Spring Lecture: "Volker Kutscher - a translator's story" - Monday 20 February, 2023
Niall Sellar, translator of Volker Kutscher's "Babylon Berlin" crime mystery books from the original German, explained some of the problems of translation and the various creative solutions.
Where: Council Chamber, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford GU2 4BB
Open to the public: free admission
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2022
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Mini German Christmas market - Sunday 27 November, 2022
A great success - lots of visitors, lots of shopping, plus the award by the Mayor of the orizes in our Short Film Competition for schools.
Where: Guildhall, High Street, Guildford GU1 3AA
Open to the public: free admission.
Short film competition for Guildford and Freiburg schools - November, 2021
Students at all secondary schools in Guildford & Freiburg were invited to make a 2-minute film: in Guildford, in German, theme "Mein perfektes Wochenende"; in Freiburg in English, theme "My perfect weekend". Separate competitions in the two towns, both with eminent local judges and special award ceremonies - plus prizes! You can see the films here.
Open to pupils at all Guildford and Freiburg schools
Halloween Zoom Quiz - 31 October, 2022
40 participants from Guildford and Freiburg in 7 mixed-nationality teams answered questions in German and English posed by Quizmaster Steve Callaghan (GTA Education Liaison), all wearing appropriate Halloween hats with some interesting Halloween virtual backgrounds. We're all getting better at Zooming!
Members' trip to Freiburg - June 23 - 27, 2022
13 members met in Freiburg, were welcomed by Freiburg City Council and Freiburg's Anglo German Club. They participated in Freiburg's Partner City Fair, attended an exhibition by Guildford and Freiburg artists, and visited the city and the Black Forest.
Members only.
Annual General Meeting - Wednesday June 8, 2022
Where: online via Zoom
Members only.
Members' lunch party – Saturday May 21, 2022
Where: Guildford Institute, Ward Street, Guildford GU1 4LH
Members and their guests only.
Spring lecture: "Caspar David Friedrich, Master of German Romanticism" - Wednesday April 27, 2022
Speaker: Eveline Eaton
Where: online via Zoom
Open to the public: free admission.
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2021
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Mini German Christmas market - Sunday November 28, 2021
Where: Guildhall, High Street, Guildford GU1 3AA
Open to the public: free admission.
Short film competition for Guildford schools - November, 2021
Students at all Guildford secondary schools were invited to make a 2-minute film on the subject "Guildford - my town/meine Stadt" in English or German. Judges were included the Mayor, Professor Phil Powrie of University of Surrey and Nick Bale, Leader of Guildford Town Guides: prizes were awarded by the Mayor at the Christmas market.
Open to pupils at all Guildford schools
German filmfest - November 10, 2021
Where: Rik Medlik Building, University of Surrey
Three exciting films with introductions by University of Surrey film academics
Open to the public: free to GTA members, students and teachers
Concert of German music for cello and piano - October 2021
Where: Guildford County School, Farnham Road, Guildford
Jo and Erik Levi performed their selection of superb German music, by composers Handel, Brahms, Schubert, Weill and Volker
Open to the public: free admission
Members' summer lunch party – Sunday August 22, 2021
Where: Weybourne House, Hitherbury Close, Guildford GU2 4DR
Members and their guests only.
Annual General Meeting - Thursday 10 June, 2021
Where: online via Zoom
Members only
16+ Seminar 2020/21: "The language of film" - March, 2021
Speaker: Dr Helen Hughes, Senior lecturer in German and Film Studies, University of Surrey
Recorded: Watch it free of charge here.
Dr Helen Hughes explores aspects of film, providing insights and ways of thinking about film relevant to foreign language cinema in general, or indeed to films in general.
Aimed at 6th-form students at Guildford schools and their teachers: now available to the public.
Spring lecture: "Germany Today" - March 2021
Speaker: Julia Gross, Deputy Head of the German Embassy in London
Where: online via Zoom
Open to the public: free admission.
Fasnet Zoom Quiz - February 2021
Where: online via Zoom
GTA members and Freiburg friends
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2020
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Autumn lecture: "Beethoven: Tradition & Innovation" - October 2020
Speaker: Professor Erik Levi, Royal Holloway, University of London with Jo Levi, cellist.
Recorded: watch it free of charge, Part 1 here and Part 2 here (you can switch on the subtitles by hovering over the bottom of the screen and clicking on "cc").
Link & Drink virtual aperitif - Sunday 23 August, 2020
Where: online via Zoom
Recorded: watch it free of charge here
Annual General Meeting - Wednesday 30 September, 2020
Where: online via Zoom
Members only
Spring lecture: “The German Love Affair with Shakespeare” - May, 2020
Speaker: Dr. Ben Schofield, Head of German, Kings College London University,
Recorded: watch it free of charge here.
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Members' German Dinner, celebrating Freiburg's 900th anniversary - Wednesday 4 March, 2020
Where: Guildhall, High Street, Guildford.
Members and their friends only.
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2019
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Mini German Christmas market - Sunday December 1, 2019
Where: Guildhall, High Street, Guildford GU1 3AA
Open to the public: free admission.
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Autumn Lecture: "Old and New German Films" - Wednesday October 16, 2019
Speaker: Dr Helen Hughes, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, University of Surrey
Where: Council Chamber, Borough Council Offices, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford GU2 4BB
Dr Hughes talked about what makes German films German, and illustrated her lecture with examples from old and new German films.
Open to the public: free admission.
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16+ Seminar 2019: "Unlock the world through languages" (or "How to boost your A-Level skills, and where they can take you") - Thursday October 3, 2019
Speaker: Dr Ben Schofield, Senior lecturer in German Literature, King's College London
Where: George Abbott School, Woodruff Avenue, Guildford GU1 1XX
Dr Schofield used practical examples to help students get the best out of their A-level modern language courses, boost their skills and widen their horizons.
Admission restricted to 6th-form students at Guildford schools and their teachers: free of charge.
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Lecture: "Localising the UN's Sustainable Development Goals in Freiburg" - Friday September 6, 2019
Speaker: Simone Pflaum, Director of Sustainability Management, City of Freiburg
Where: 5G Innovation Centre, University of Surrey, Stag Hill, Guildford GU2 7XH
At this event organised by Guildford Borough Council and the University of Surrey, Ms Pflaum explained some of the UN goals and discussed the extent to which Freiburg is grappling with them successully.
Free admission for Members
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Freiburg City Official Visit to Guildford - September 4-6, 2019
The Oberbürgermeister (Lord Mayor) of Freiburg and 10 other delegates were hosted by Guildford Borough Council, assisted by the GTA.
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Members' summer lunch party – Sunday August 18, 2019
Where: Merrist Wood College, Holly Lane, Worplesdon, Guildford GU3 3PE
Members and their guests only.
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Concert: John Sheppard Ensemble, Freiburg - Saturday 11 August, 2019
Where: Holy Trinity Church, High Street, Guildford GU1 3RR
Concert organised by Guildford Chamber Choir, assisted by the GTA.
Open to the public: free admission.
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Annual General Meeting - Tuesday 25 June, 2019
Where: Guildhall, High Street, Guildford GU1 3AA
Members only.
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Members' trip to Freiburg - June 6 - 9, 2019
16 members met in Freiburg, were welcomed by Freiburg City Council and Freiburg's Anglo German Club, and visited the city and the Black Forest.
Members only.
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Picnic in the Castle Grounds – Saturday June 1, 2019
Where: Guildford Castle grounds
At this event organised by Guildford Borough Council, the Association ran a stall in the grounds of Guildford Castle to promote the twinning, with fun activities for children.
Open to the public: free admission.
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Freiburg artists and artworks in Guildford: 4 May - 16 June, 2019
"Voices of Freiburg"exhibition of 5 Freiburg artists and their artworks in Guildford: 4 May - 16 June, 2019
Where: Guildford House Gallery, High Street, Guildford GU1 3AJ
Open to the public: free admission
Afternoon tea reception: Members and guests only
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Freiburg sculptors at Surrey Hills Sculpture Garden & Arts Festival 2019
Where: Birtley Estate, Bramley GU5 0LB
Open to the public
Evening private view: Members and guests only
Radio interviews: As part of BBC Surrey's "Surrey Day" broadcast on Saturday 4th May, James Cannon interviewed Barbara Ford, GTA chair, two other committee members and two Freiburg artists.
Click here for recordings of the interviews.
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Members' German Dinner - Wednesday 6 March, 2019
Where: Weybourne House, St Catherine’s, Hitherbury Close, Guildford GU2 4DR
Members and their friends only.
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2018
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Mini German Christmas Market - Sunday December 2, 2018
Where: Guildhall, High Street, Guildford GU1 3AA
Open to the public: free admission.
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Autumn Lecture - "German Art - a personal view from the bridge" - Monday November 26, 2018
Speaker: Ian Charnock, Retired Head of History of Art, Guildford High School & St George’s, Ascot
Where: Council Chamber, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford GU2 4BB
Mr Charnock talked to us about German art, including the German tradition of wood sculpture.
Open to the public: free admission.
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16+ seminar: “Introduction to European film” – Wednesday October 3, 2018
Speaker: Professor Phil Powrie, Professor of Cinema Studies, University of Surrey
Where: Guildford High School, London Road, Guildford
An enrichment seminar for local sixth-formers.
Admission restricted to 6th-form students at Guildford schools and their teachers: free of charge.
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Members' summer lunch party – Sunday August 19, 2018
Where: Merrist Wood College, Holly Lane, Worplesdon, Guildford GU3 3PE
Members and their guests only.
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Picnic in the Castle Grounds – Saturday June 2, 2018
Where: Guildford Castle grounds
Open to the public: free admission.
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Film & Conversation with Telemach Wiesinger - Wednesday 30 May, 2018
Speaker: Telemach Wiesinger
Where: The Guildhall, High Street, Guildford GU1 3AA
Telemach Wiesinger, a German photographer and film-maker with a poetic sensibility, presented and discussed (in English) a selection from his works. Presentation followed by Q & A.
Open to the public
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Annual General Meeting - Thursday 24 May, 2018 (7:30 pm)
Where: Council Chamber, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford GU2 4BB
Members only.
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Spring Lecture: "What is German about German music?" - Monday 16 April, 2018
Speaker: Professor Erik Levi, Visiting Professor of Music, Royal Holloway College, University of London
Where: Council Chamber, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford GU2 4BB
Professor Levi explored for us the features of German music that make it distinctive from other musical traditions. You can see his slide presentation, which includes audio files of the musical examples, here .
(4 files are available, all in Microsoft "Powerpoint" format. File 1 is the text presentation; and each of files 2, 3 and 4 contains one of the audio-enabled musical example sets with which Professor Levi illustrated his talk. To launch the audio components in those 3 files, when viewing the presentation, just click on the loudspeaker icons: .)
Open to the public: free admission.
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Members' German Dinner - Wednesday 28 February, 2018
Where: Weybourne House, St Catherines, Hitherbury Close, Guildford GU2 4DR
Members and their friends only.
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2017
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Mini German Christmas market – Sunday 3 December, 2017
Where: Guildhall, High Street, Guildford GU1 3AA
Open to the public: free admission.
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Autumn Lecture: "German democracy: how is it different?" - Thursday 16 November, 2017
Speaker: Dr Emanuele Massetti, Lecturer in Comparative Politics, University of Surrey
Where: Council Chamber, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford GU2 4BB
Dr Massetti explained to us the current constitutional set-up of Germany, with a look at its historical background and some insights into its workings in practice, plus a comparison with the British and other systems.
You can see his slide presentation here.
Open to the public: free admission.